Complementary feeding practices of mothers of children aged 0 to 12 months in a Township in Tshwane, Gauteng Province

Abstract

Background: Adequate nutrition plays a crucial role in an infant’s growth and development. Poor complementary feeding practices lead to overweight, and obesity later in life.
Aim: This study aimed to assess complementary feeding practices by mothers of children aged 0 to 12 months in Tshwane, Gauteng Province.
Setting: The study was conducted in Soshanguve clinics, Tshwane, Gauteng Province.
Methods: A quantitative descriptive study was conducted in six Soshanguve clinics amongst mothers of infants aged 0–12 months. A total of 325 questionnaires were analysed for the study.
Results: Thirty-five percent of mothers introduced complementary foods between 5- 6 months as 44% of the children refused to be breastfed. The majority of respondents 84%, (n=270), reported that maize meal soft porridge is the first food introduced to their infants’ diet. The majority (53%) of mothers gave fruit juice to their infants. The infant’s age [F (11, 126) = 6.69, p=.00]; mothers’ employment [F (4, 133) = 4.27, p = .01]; household income [F (5, 132) = 5.08, p = 00] and marital status [F (3, 134) = 4.23, p = .00] influenced the introduction of complementary foods.
Conclusion: The majority of mothers introduced complementary foods between five and six months. However, mainly maize meal porridge and fruit juice were introduced. The study’s findings will be instrumental in educating mothers on appropriate foods to be  introduced to their infants. Also, they would assist in the implementation of relevant strategies for improved infant feeding, growth, and development of the children.